Don’t Underestimate Biden (Or Overestimate) Ryan

The temptation is there to worry about Vice President Biden. He occasionally produces memorable gaffes and is (how to put this gently) prone to talk too much. But remember, he cleaned Governor Palin’s clock in 2008 and gave a fantastic speech at this year’s convention. Also, most importantly, with two presidential campaigns and a vice presidential campaign, he knows what he is doing on the debate stage.

And his opponent, Rep. Ryan, does not. Think about any time a newcomer to the national stage debates a veteran. The performances range from the weak (John Edwards, Geraldine Ferrraro) to the embarrassing (Sarah Palin, Dan Quayle). The veteran always “wins.” And Biden will win what should be the most entertaining debate of the fall (neither Biden nor Ryan has the stiff reserve of the presidential nominees).

About Stuart Shapiro

Stuart is a professor and the Director of the Public Policy
program at the Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy at Rutgers
University. He teaches economics and cost-benefit analysis and studies
regulation in the United States at both the federal and state levels.
Prior to coming to Rutgers, Stuart worked for five years at the Office
of Management and Budget in Washington under Presidents Clinton and
George W. Bush.